The strange world of stomach cramps and dodgy caviar

Ever wondered why it’s often the Russians who pop up in these tales of dirty tricks?

LET'S BE honest, Russia versus Germany has always been a grudge match, often characterised by dirty tricks, maniacal resilience from the Ruskies and a bitter and humiliating defeat for the Germans. This is how it was in Marshall Zhukov's time and it was exactly the same in the Davis Cup tie between the countries in September.

The Germans advanced, took an easy lead, thought they were home and dry - and then came the big chill. The statistics will show that Russia beat Germany 3-2, but statistics sometimes obscure more than they reveal.

The German tennis star Tommy Haas, ranked 13th in the world, was forced to withdraw from the match because he was suffering from crippling stomach pains. His replacement lost the rubber and Germany lost the tie. In response to a casual inquiry as to Haas's whereabouts, a Russian tennis agent remarked cheerfully: "Oh, he's been poisoned."